Teko: Irvin Khoza robbed me of a move to Europe

Cape Town – Veteran midfielder Teko Modise has revealed the astonishing truth about how Orlando Pirates boss Irvin Khoza robbed him of an opportunity to play in Europe.

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During his time at Pirates, Modise in consecutive seasons won the PSL Footballer of the Year award – in 2008 and 2009 – and was also named SAFA Footballer of the Year.

While speaking at the launch of his biography, ‘The Curse of Teko Modise’, the 37-year-old revealed how Khoza – who is known as the ‘Iron Duke’ – prevented him from furthering his promising career in Europe.

The Bafana Bafana international’s local success saw him linked with a move to Premier League sides Aston Villa, Manchester City and Wigan.

“At the time I was the only local player playing regularly in the national team,” Modise said.

“So I remember my Bafana Bafana team-mates saying at the time asking what I was doing still playing local football.

“I went to Irvin who said to me: ‘Ja, you’re getting influence by Benni and Steven Pienaar because all of a sudden now you want to go overseas’.”

Modise goes on to detail how Khoza refused to hold meetings with him to discuss a potential move to Europe.

“The reason why I signed for Orlando Pirates is because I saw players before me going overseas so I thought that if I perform well there the chances are that I will go overseas,” Modise said.

“When I showed up for a meeting with Irvin they told me that he wasn’t there, but then I could see his car in the parking lot … and those were the days before Uber so there was no way he wasn’t there.”